Welcome to our new President

Since
the sad loss of Alex O'Shea earlier this year, the club has been
without a President. The Committee is pleased to announce that Dougal
Torrance has stepped in to fill the position of Club President.

Dougal
Torrance is Canberra born and bred and has been racing both on an off
road since the turn of the century. Dougal was the vice president of the
Canberra Cycling Club, has assisted in organising major cycling events
and has ridden for various Canberra teams, although by his own
admission, never very effectively. Dougal has worked in both public and
private enterprise and is currently undertaking a Masters of Teaching at
University of Canberra.

We welcome him to the position and encourage club members to give him their full support in his new role.

National Capital Tour - We Need You!

Are
you, your family, neighbours or strangers off the street able to spend
time helping at this year’s National Capital Tour? Be part of the 2016
National Capital Tour on the 16 – 18 September and Volunteer!

This
year we have secured an inner city location (Embassy circuit) on the
Saturday but it is resource heavy for volunteers, so any assistance
would be appreciated. If you could volunteer a half day on Saturday
morning, Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning it would be seen as
invaluable! Of course there will be food, drink and a free T-shirt for
all volunteers.

The
National Capital Tour attracts the best domestic riders in Australia
and New Zealand, and with the inclusion of graded races, we are looking
to put Canberra back on the map for high quality cycling events in
Australia. That is why your help is so important. If you could volunteer
for any part of the weekend of Friday 16 September – Sunday 18
September then simply send an email, make a phone call or text a
message! For further information please contact John Armstrong (text or
call) on 0412 257 990 or contact the event coordinator (Joanne) atevents@capitalcycling.org.au. The ACT Vets Club has been tremendous in their support in previous years and we look to your continued support this year.

From James Meredith

Thought
I would let you know that I am still riding. The Gold Coast Masters
(local Vets club) has crits on Sundays and track on Thursdays.

We
have two dedicated crit tracks (Runaway Bay and Nerang) and a block in
an industrial estate at Gaven. Only the very occasional road race as the
road closure stuff is too difficult to get permissions. The Nerang crit
track as a "hill" which every one talks about as if it where
Honeysuckle but it is more like the last rise on the return from Lake
George on the Old Federal Hwy. Oh, by the way, they don't have either G
or F grades here so I have been riding E which I think is quite similar
in pace over the shorter distances in crits. I may have to be a bit
careful as the numbers have been down and I have had a few placings!

The
crits are managed with about the same times as Vets grades but they
start each grade in several minute intervals and then have everybody on
the course at the same time. It can get a bit scary at times but most
grades are respectful of their juniors.

The
track at Nerang has a steeper bank than Q'beyan but no where near the
bunda dome and it is 480 metres long. We are trying desperately to
encourage riders (sound familiar?) and lately we have been doing 50 laps
behind a derny. You can catch a glimpse here:https://www.facebook.com/GoldCoastMastersCycling.

regards James

RFM team fundraising for the Hartley Cycle Challenge

A great movie event for everyone interested in cycling.....As
part of our fundraising for the Hartley Cycle Challenge the Rural Funds
Management team will be putting on drinks and finger food plus a
screening of "Pantani:The accidental death of a cyclist" on September
17th.

Except from the movie blurb....."Pantani
was a hero to millions and was seen as the saviour of cycling during a
time when doping scandals threatened to destroy the sport. But six years
after his extraordinary feats and aged only 34, tragically Pantani was
dead. Discovered in a cheap Italian hotel, he died alone apparently from
acute cocaine poisoning.

Shot
over two years in the French Alps, Italian Alps and Dolomites and the
places of Pantani's greatest victories. This is the story of the
greatest climber of his generation, man versus mountain, athlete versus
the system, Marco Pantani versus himself"

Venue: Telstra Tower bottom floorTime: 7pm Saturday 17th of SeptemberPrice: $25 per head which includes Italian-inspired finger food.The bar will open to purchase Italian beer and wine.